Firearm cleaning rod centralizer



0d. 22, 1946. I ,c WJVARCQE 2,409,916

FIREARM CLEANING ROD CENTRALIZER Filed Sept. 14, 1943 III/17111111111111! 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ '(II/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII CHARLES VAR0E Patented Oct. 22 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning firearms and has for an object to provide a device for centralizing and guiding the cleaning rod during the cleaning operation to prevent contact and rubbing of the rod on the surface of the bore of the barrel to prevent marring of this surface, wear on the surface or otherwise injuring the surface of the bore to thus impair the original accuracy of the gun.

It is also an object to provide such a device which is of simple construction and may be easily and quickly applied and removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in View I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of constructions and arrangements shown but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the muzzle end of a rifle barrel with my device applied thereto, the cleaning rod being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the centralizer removed from the barrel} Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slight modification;

Fig. 4 is a, partial side elevation and partial section showing a modified form; v

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the breach end of a rifie barrel showing how the device may be employed therein; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the centralizer of Fig. 5.

In cleaning the bores of the barrels of firearms a common means employed is a metal rod to which is attached a swab at one end which is run back and forth through the bore of the barrel to clean it. During this operation the rod usually rubs against the surface of the bore, thus either marring or causing wear thereon which affects the original accuracy of the gun, particularly with numerous and continuous cleaning. It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a simple and effective device which will prevent such injury to the bore of the gun and which will also facilitate the cleaning operation. It comprises primarily a simple and effective device cooperating with an end portion of the barrel to centralize the cleaning rod and maintain it and keep it in central alignment with ation so as to prevent any injury or wear on the surface of the bore during this operation.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it comprises a sleeve type or bushing type member 9 preferably of soft metal or plastic material including a body portion I0 which may be formed on its outer surface to provide an improved hand grip, for which purpose it may be provided with one or more circular finger grooves II and the surfaces may be knurled or otherwise roughened as indicated at 82. At one end the body portion is provided with means cooperating with one end of the gun barrel to centralize the device with respect to the bore of the barrel. In the form of Figs. 1 and 2 this means comprises a reduced tubular portion I3 projecting from one end of the body and of a size to project into and fit the bore H! of the gun barrel l5, in the illustration a rifle barrel. This provides a shoulder l6 between the body portion and the tubular portion which is adapted to engage the end of the barrel to limit insertion of the tubular portion into the bore of the barrel. Extending longitudinally through this member is a, guide passage I! for the cleaning rod l8, the passage being preferably la, good sliding fit for the rod. and this rod may include a grip or handle 19 at one end and the other end be provided with any of the usual means for carrying and holding the cleaning swab 20 of a suitable fibrous material. The handle or grip may be detachable connected to the rod to permit threading of the rod through the centralizer 9 or the rod may be inserted before the swab is applied. It'will be seen that when the tubular portion I3 is inserted in the bore of the barrel the member 9 provides a guiding and centralizing means for the rod l8, preventing the rod from engag ng or rubbing on the surface of the bore I l during the cleaning operation and thus effectively preventing any marring, wearing or other injury to the surface of the bore and effectively maintaining its original accuracy. Also by mainta ning the cleaning rod properly centralized with respect to the bore it greatly facilitates the cleaning operation and provides a more effective and uniform action.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body portion I 0 and the tubular portion l3 of the sleeve or bushing type member 9 are formed integrally in one piece, but this is not necessarily the construction required. As shown in Fig. 3, the tubular portion 2| is a separate member permanently mounted in a gripping or body porthe bore of the barrel during the cleaning opertion 22, preferably extending through the center of this body portion and provided with the longi-- tudinal guiding passage H for the cleaning rod [8 the same as in Fig. 1, the body portion 22 providing a hand grip the same as the body portion ill and having circular grooves H, and the surface of the grip may also be knurled as indicated at 2. This may be made of any suitable materials but preferably the tubular portions 2| is of soft metal and the body portion of some molded plastic material.

In Fig. 4 is shown another-modification which has somewhat different means for cooperating with the barrel to centralize the device and its longitudinal guide passage with respect to the bore of the gun. This device comprises a body portion 23 similar to the body portions ill and 22 of the first form forming a hand grip the surface of which may be grooved as indicated at 24 and knurled as indicated at 25 to improve the grip. At one end, however, instead of the tubular extension 13 to fit within the bore of the barrel it is provided with a tapered or cone shaped recess 26 to receive the muzzle end 2! of the barrel to thus center the device on the muzzle and maintain the longitudinal guide passage 28 for the cleaning rod l 8 in central longitudinal alignment with the bore 54 of the barrel. It will be evident that by holding this device against the muzzle end of the barrel with this end seated in the tapered recess 25, the centralizing device 29 is effectively held and maintained in the central position to properly guide the cleaning rod [8 within the bore i l and prevent its contacting or rubbing on the surface of the bore to mar, wear or otherwise injure the surface. If desired, the end portion of the member 29 may be flared as indicated at 39 to contain recess 26 and permit its being extended and flared suificiently to properly receive the end of the gun barrel without unduly enlarging the grip portion of the member.

Figs. and 6 illustrate now the same principle and similar construction may be employed for centralizing and guiding the cleaning rod at the breach end of the barrel. The breach end is indicated at 3| merely diagrammatically with the cartridge chamber 32 at the inner end of the bore 14. In this case the centralizer 33 comprises a tubular extension 34 similar to the extensions l3 and 2! projecting at one end, shown at 34a, into the inner end of the bore l4 and is of a size to fit this bore so as to be located centrally thereof. At one end'of the tubular extension is an enlarged body portion 35 of a size to fit the outer end of the cartridge chamber 32 to centralize the device therein, and it is provided with a shoulder 4 36 to engage the shoulder 31 on the end of the barrel to limit theinsertion of the centralizer into the bore of the barrel. It is provided with a longitudinal guide passage 38 forming a good sliding lit for the cleaning rod [8 the same as in the other forms, and it will be seen it effectively centralizes and guides the cleaning rod in the bore and prevents it from rubbing on or marring the surface of the bore or the cartridge chamber during the cleaning operation, and also materially facilitates this operation.

It will thus be seen that in all forms illustrated the device comprises a sleeve type or a bushing type device including a body portion provided at one end with means cooperating with an end portion of the gun barrel to centralize the guide passage for the cleaning rod in alignment with the bore of the barrel, and guides this rod and maintains it in this central position during the cleaning operation so as to prevent its contacting the surface of the bore to thus rub on it and mar,

it or cause wear or otherwise damage it, which would be apt to affect the original accuracy of the gun. Also by maintaining the rod always centralized with respect to the bore it greatly facilitates the cleaning operation. It is not con fined to use with rifles but may be as effectively employed with other firearms, such for example as shotguns and revolvers.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

A cleaning device for firearms including a cleaning rod of sufficiently smaller diameter than the bore of the barrel so as to be spaced from it on all sides when in the bore, a swab on said rod for cleaning the bore of the barrel, a hand grip on the rod for moving the'swab through the bore, a guiding and centralizing member for said rod provided with a longitudinal straight passage circular in cross section and substantially the diameter of the rod in which the rod has a sliding guiding fit, and said member including a body portion providing a hand grip and provided with a cone shaped recess in one end communicating with said passage and adapted to receive the end of the barrel, and said recess being of larger diameter than the barrel at its larger end and smaller than the barrel at its smaller end so that the end of the barrel engages the inclined side walls of the recess intermediate its ends to center the said 1 passage and rod in alignment with the bore to CHARLES W. VARCOE. 

